Ratchet-wrench



(No Model.)

T. SGHABFBR. RATGHET WRENCH.

No. 566,229. ,Patented Aug. 18, 1896.

Nrrnn rares THEODORE SCIIAEFER, OF BLACKBURN, MISSOURI.

RATcHET-WRENcl-a.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 566,229, dated August18, 1896.

Application tiled March 28, l 896.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THnoDoRn SCHAEFER, of Blackburn, Saline county,Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRatchet-XVrenches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart thereof.

My invention relates to ratchet-wrenches 5 and it consists in certainnovel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts,as hereinafter described and claimed.

My object is to produce a wrench of this character which is of such formthat it may be engaged with nuts or bolt-heads in places nearlyinaccessible to an ordinary wrench, and at the same time is simple,strong, durable, and inexpensive of construction. v

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference is to behad tothe accompanyin g drawings, wherein-` Figure 1 represents in sideelevation a ratchet -wrench constructed in accordance with my invention.Fig. 2 represents on a larger scale a section taken on the line x ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 represents an inverted plan view of the wrench on thesame scale as Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a horizontal section taken onthe line y y of Fig. 1.

In the said drawings, 1 designates the shank or body of the wrench,which is provided at its upper end with a diminished extension 2, whichproj ects into a handle 3 and is secured therein by a set-screw 4. Theshank or body portion of the wrench is provided at its lower end with acylindrical recess 5, with which communicates the lower end of avertical groove 6, and said groove in turn communicates with thelaterally enlarged or widened opening 7 in the face of the shank. Asliding bolt 8 fits within said groove 6 and is provided with a verticalguide-slot 9, engaged by a guide or securing screw or pin l0, which eX-tends radially into the shank. The lower end of the bolt is preventedfrom lateral movement by means of guide-plate 11, which is bifurcatedand embraces snugly said bolt, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. e.Said bifurcated plate 11, in order that it may be held reliably inposition, fits into oppositelydisposed grooves 12a, formed in the shank,and is prevented from sliding forward and Serial No. 585,265. (Nomodel.)

outward by means of a set-screw 13, which passes downwardly through itand into the shank, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The bolt 8 is helddownwardly with a yielding pressure by means of a spring 14E, whichoccupies the groove 6 and is interposed between the upper end of thesame and the upper or opposing end of said bolt.

15 designates an externally-threaded collar or cylindrical tap whichscrews into the lower end of the shank 1, and j ournaled rotatablyinsaid collar or tap and extending vertically into the shank is a tubularclutch-section 16, provided with a downwardly-disposed annular shoulder17, which rests upon the upper end of the collar or tap 15, whichtherefore holds the tubular section reliably in position. The upper endof said section is provided with ratchet-teeth 18, all disposed in thesame direction, which act in conjunction with the beveled lower end ofthe bolt 8, and the lower end of said tubular section is squaredinternally, so as to engage a nut or other angular object.

In operation it is obvious that after the rectangular end of the sectionis engaged with a nut or bolt to be turned it is simply necessary, bymeans of the handle, to turn the shank so that the spring-actuated boltwill engage and bear against the abrupt face of the opposing tooth, andafter turning the nut or bolt by one twist of the hand as far as con-.venient the movement of the hand is reversed and the bolt slidesinoperatively over the ratchet-teeth of the clutch-section 16 withoutturning the latter back or otherwise affecting its position. The handleis then turned as before to operate the clutch-section 16 still more,and this operation is repeated until the bolt or nut is screwed home ordisconnected, as the case may be. It is obvious, of course, that thisratchet-section may be made to operate toward the right or toward theleft, as desired. The shank is provided at a suitable point with anopening or passage 20, whereon may be placed a rod by which to turn itin case the handle is removed.

Slight changes in the formation, proportion, or arrangement of the partsmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what IOO I elaini as new, anddesire t0 secure by Letters Patent, is-

A wrench comprisin g a shank provided with a cylindrical recess orsocket in its lower end, a collar or tap screwed into the lower end ofthe saine, a clutch-section formed rectangular internally at its lowerend and fitting into said recess or socket and provided with an annularshoulder which rests upon said collar o1' tap, and with ratchet-teeth atits upper end, a bolt slidingly mounted in said shank and suitablyguided, a spring bearing` upon the upper end of said bolt and holding,`it with yielding pressure into engagement with said ratchet, abifurcated plate embracing,` said bolt and tting in grooves in saidshank, and a set-screw for holding said plate reliably in position,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE SCHAEFER. lVtnesses:

II. J. lELoT, WM. MILLER.

